The End

The sun must rise and also set...

The Fourth Age of Middle-earth began in glory. Aragorn and Arwen ruled over Gondor together, and had many children.

After a time, though, Aragorn began to grow old. And although she had known that someday it would happen, Arwen felt an overwhelming sadness like despair. "Would you then, lord, before your time, leave your people that live by your word?" she asked.

And he answered: "Not before my time. For if I will not go now, then I must soon go perforce. And Eldarion our son is a man full ripe for kingship." Then Aragorn gave to his son the crown of Gondor and the sceptre of Arnor.

He lay down in bed with none but the silent Arwen Undómiel standing beside him. "Lady Undómiel," he said, "the hour is indeed hard, yet it was made even in that day when we met under the white birches in garden of Elrond where none now walk. And on the hill of Cerin Amroth when we forsook both the Shadow and the Twilight this doom we accepted. Take counsel with yourself, beloved, and ask whether you would indeed have me wait until I wither and fall from my high seat unmanned and witless. Nay, lady, I am the last of the Númenoreans and the latest King of the Eldar Days; and to me has been given not only a span thrice that of Men of Middle-earth, but also the grace to go at my will, and give back the gift. Now, therefore, I will sleep."

The dying king told Arwen that if she wished, she might cross the seas and return to the Twilight. But she refused, and told him: "Nay, dear lord, that choice is long over. There is now no ship that would bear me hence, and I must indeed abide the Doom of Men, whether I will or I nill: the loss and silence. "

And Aragorn bid her farewell, taking her hand and kissing it. "Estel! Estel!" she cried, but her lord was at rest. She wept, and as she looked at him, she could see youth and manhood upon his face, so that he appeared to possess both the wisdom of his years and the grace of his manhood.

Then Arwen fled Minas Tirith, leaving Eldarion and her daughters to rule the City of Men. At length, she reached the woods of Lórien, and there she spent the winter alone. Galadriel and Celeborn had both passed away, and their once beautiful land was cold and silent.

As the mallorn-leaves fell, Arwen Undómiel laid herself to rest atop Cerin Amroth, where niphredil blooms no more.

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The above is based on Tolkien's writing, but was written by me. All quotes were directly copied to stay true to the story.